I have a 2002 3.2TL and the transmission has a flairing issue, so the transmission needs to be replaced. I am not sure that I would trust rebuilding it since it is very costly not to mention time consuming to do it right. My question is would the TL type S transmission work fine? I talked to tech line today (I am a Honda Tech) and they told me that it would probably work but that the shift points may be different and the type S has 20 more HP (which I already knew) so they could not say for sure that it would work then they said to make it work properly I might need to swap the ECU. Has anyone done this and if so did it work ok.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.

 

I can't believe nobody has tried this before?

 

yeah man it mounts fine, the TL AND TL-S transmissions are the same except for their ECU's, either transmission will mount to the stock ECU, it's the ECU that changes how that transmission shifts. The TL-S extra power comes from the reprogrammed ECU with modified shift points, and cleaner intake and exhaust flow.

 

They bolt up, its been done before, Id highly suggest sourcing a type s ecu though, and those arent exactly cheap

 

If I get a Type S ecu will that effect the way the motor runs? The new ecu will not match the VIN either when I re program the keys. I suppose that might be ok, but since the Type S motors have different cams, intake and exhaust won't this effect the engine or not to the point it would matter?

 

Ecu would adjust to your cars sensors parameters, and keep the type S daunting shift points.

 

you can use a type S trans in a regular CL/TL only difference is extra clutch pack for holding power.

Using a CLS/TLS ECU on a regular engine most likely will not work out very well as J32A1 will not stand up to repeated 6700 rpm WOT shifting, not to mention secondaries and different v-tec engagement point.....

type S has 35 more HP

 

Ok Just wanted to update everyone on the status of this swap. I ended up getting a TL type S reman transmission from another member on this board. It was a reman from honda so it had all the updates done to it with 0 miles on it. I tried to get the normal 3.2tl transmission from honda since I work for them, however the best price I could get one was $2292 plus $1400 core fee, I got the tl type s for quite a bit less. I talked to tech line and they were really no help, they didn't think it would work and that I would need to get the tl type S ecu to work properly. We'll I am here to say the Tl type S transmission does work fine with the base TL, it shifts normally with no jerks or hard upshifts or downshifts. One issue that I did run into and then verified was that the base TL has a speed sensor that runs off the diff that controls the flow of ps fluid to the rack, I would assume that it varies full assist or lower assist at different speeds, or shall I say thats what I assumed when I ran into that issue. The racks are different from the base to the type S, apparently the type S does not have this feature, my prelude did so I am not sure why they would not put it on the type S unless they were going for a more firm/calculated feel to the steering. Anyways, I just ended up re routing the hose from the in and out of the speedsensor pump to just in and out of the rack. The end result was at no speed or idle there is assist however it is not full assist or as easy as it was to steer previously, it is probably 50% harder to steer when parking/slow turns, at normal speeds or highway speeds, it is normal. I think that most people would not even notice it if they did not drive their car everyday, nor would a stranger be able to tell a difference. It was definitely worth saving some money and buying the type S transmission over spending almost $1000 more for the base transmission. So hopefully this may help some of you in the future.

 

^ say what? TL/CL type S have variable assist power steering...It get easier the slower you go...

Straight from Acura

Steering Type Variable power-assisted, rack and pinion
Steering Wheel Turns,
Lock-to-Lock 3.2CL - 3.06
Type S - 2.88


The rack is different in the type S cause it has quicker ratio to make up for the slightly larger turning radius due to wider tires....and to give the car a sportier feel

the 5spd AT is pretty much identical except for the extra clutch pack......

I drive a CL-S btw and I know the variable assist works.....i believe that the type S is torque sensitive....

 

The type S may have that but it is built into the rack then and the base tl is ran off the diff in the transmission.....

 

type a will work just fine there the best trans made for the TL anyway